
Contentful is a leading headless CMS used by businesses to manage and distribute digital content efficiently. While it offers significant flexibility, scalability, and API-driven content management, many users encounter challenges during implementation and daily operations. As a software development agency specialising in building corporate websites and mobile applications, Newpath has worked extensively with Contentful and understands the common pain points businesses face.
In this article, we’ll explore ten frequently reported Contentful challenges and provide practical solutions to help businesses optimise their use of the platform.
1. Complex Learning Curve for New Users
The Challenge:
Contentful’s headless architecture differs from traditional CMS platforms, making it difficult for content teams and developers to get started quickly.
The Fix:
- Invest in role-based training for developers, content editors, and administrators.
- Leverage Contentful’s official documentation, tutorials, and community forums.
- Build pre-configured templates and content models to simplify onboarding.
2. Inconsistent Content Modelling
The Challenge:
Poorly structured content models can lead to inconsistencies, redundancy, and inefficiencies when managing content at scale.
The Fix:
- Follow content modelling best practices, such as keeping content modular and reusable.
- Conduct a workshop with stakeholders before designing content types.
- Use validations and required fields to enforce structure.
3. API Rate Limits Affecting Performance
The Challenge:
Contentful enforces API rate limits, which can cause slowdowns when fetching large datasets or executing frequent API requests.
The Fix:
- Use batch API calls instead of making multiple individual requests.
- Implement caching strategies (e.g., Contentful’s GraphQL CDN or third-party caching layers).
- Optimise queries by requesting only necessary fields.
4. Search and Filtering Limitations
The Challenge:
Contentful lacks built-in advanced search and filtering capabilities, making content retrieval cumbersome.
The Fix:
- Integrate with Algolia or ElasticSearch for enhanced search functionality.
- Use metadata tagging and structured fields to improve filtering.
- Utilise GraphQL queries to refine content selection.
5. No Native Preview for Rich Content
The Challenge:
Content creators struggle with previewing how their content will appear before publishing.
The Fix:
- Enable Contentful Live Preview to allow real-time content rendering.
- Use Preview Environments to stage content before going live.
- Integrate with a custom frontend preview solution.
6. Media Asset Management Can Be Cumbersome
The Challenge:
Managing large volumes of images and videos within Contentful’s asset library can become disorganised over time.
The Fix:
- Implement naming conventions and folder structures.
- Use third-party DAM (Digital Asset Management) tools like Cloudinary for advanced media handling.
- Apply image optimisations such as WebP format and lazy loading.
7. Permissions and Roles Are Too Broad
The Challenge:
Contentful’s role-based permissions lack granular control, leading to potential security risks or inefficiencies in content governance.
The Fix:
- Utilise environment-specific roles to limit access based on content type.
- Implement a content approval workflow using apps like Workflows by Contentful.
- Enforce least privilege access principles to restrict unnecessary changes.
8. Handling Large-Scale Content Migrations
The Challenge:
Migrating existing content into Contentful can be time-consuming and error-prone, especially when dealing with a high volume of data.
The Fix:
- Use the Contentful Migration CLI to script migrations programmatically.
- Break the migration process into batches to prevent API rate limits from triggering.
- Validate data integrity post-migration using automated scripts.
9. Limited Built-In Workflows for Editorial Processes
The Challenge:
Contentful does not natively support robust editorial workflows, making it difficult for large teams to collaborate efficiently.
The Fix:
- Use third-party workflow automation tools like Zapier or Integromat.
- Leverage Contentful Marketplace apps for editorial review and approval processes.
- Establish clear internal guidelines for content governance.
10. High Costs for Enterprise Scaling
The Challenge:
As businesses scale, Contentful’s pricing model can become expensive, particularly for high API usage and multiple environments.
The Fix:
- Choose a pricing plan that aligns with usage needs, avoiding unnecessary upgrades.
- Optimise API calls to prevent overuse of paid resources.
- Explore alternatives for non-essential functionalities to reduce costs.
Final Thoughts
Contentful is a powerful CMS, but like any technology, it comes with its own set of challenges. At Newpath, we help businesses navigate these hurdles by implementing best practices, optimising configurations, and integrating complementary tools. By addressing these common pain points proactively, organisations can maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of their content operations.
If you’re facing any challenges with Contentful or need expert guidance on optimising your CMS, get in touch with us at Newpath. Our team of specialists is here to help!